Shinjiro Otani hospitalized following injury on ZERO1 show

  • Ian Carey
  • By 

Shinjiro Otani suffered a serious injury during a ZERO1 show on Sunday. 

The 49-year-old was challenging Takashi Sugiura in the main event but was unable to continue after taking a German suplex into the turnbuckle. He was stretchered out of Sumo Hall and taken to hospital. Fans in the venue were asked to leave. 

Otani is said to have not been able to move following the injury. Referee Katsumi Sasazaki spoke to Tokyo Sports and said that Otani was conscious, was able to see and hear where he was, but was unable to move and could not feel his hands. 

Otani is also the acting President of ZERO1 and a former world champion in the promotion. He previously wrestled with NJPW from 1992 until 2001 as well. In 1998, Otani was named Best Technical Wrestler in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards and he and Tatsuhito Takaiwa won Tag Team of the Year.